Alone in House 1 Month - Owner Dead in Street

When a Newark resident was found dead on the street, the authorities went through the proper procedures to handle the matter – but the unfortunate man lived in an abandoned house. No one knew that there, for over a month, his faithful dog waited for his return. A friend of the deceased had been asked by a friend to “care for his dog” and may not have been aware of the tragic ending of his friend.

Smokey Joe was forgotten in the abandoned house for over a month – no lights, food or water. A Society Newark Supervisor, Zaire Johnson was approached by the friend who had “forgotten” that a dog was in the house. He immediately went to the darkened house and went to the third floor where the dog was boarded up in a bedroom. Smokey Joe lay weak and powerless and could not have survived many more days. Zaire brought him back to the Society’s Newark Medical Dept. where he was put on intravenous fluid and it was going to be a slim chance that he would survive the night.

The next morning, he lifted his head and ate a little. The second day, he left the hospital to walk outside and by chance, met our temperament evaluator. According to Linda Goodman: “He really enjoyed his walk…he does know ‘sit’. He takes treats very gently…checked out the toys but only showed interest in rawhide bones. Smokey released the bone when repeatedly given the command. Smokey Joe has no issues at all with his food.”

Smokey is the first of two dogs found in the abandoned building. Another dog, Wendy, was brought to the shelter and has since been adopted.

Smokey Joe, less than a year old, came to the Society a few days before Christmas. He is starting out life anew and what better time than the present to give him the gift of life. File N-97521-M (Newark) E-Mail us or call 973-824-7080 to find out more about Smokey Joe.